Slip and Fall Lawyer Los Angeles
Property owners document the scene before you do. Surveillance footage gets overwritten in 72 hours. Insurers argue the hazard was open and obvious. Former insurance defense attorneys at Lederer & Nojima know how to prove notice and defeat the open and obvious defense before the insurer even raises it.
4.5 ★ Google Rating · No Fee Unless We Win · Available 24/7
Slip and fall cases in California are won or lost on early evidence. Property owners and their insurers know this. The moment a fall is reported, the property owner's risk management team photographs the scene, interviews witnesses, pulls surveillance footage, and documents every detail that supports the defense narrative. If the plaintiff waits a week to hire an attorney, the best evidence is already controlled by the defense.
David Lederer and John Nojima are former insurance defense attorneys who defended property owners in premises liability lawsuits. They know the insurer's playbook: argue the hazard was open and obvious, argue there was no notice of the dangerous condition, argue the plaintiff was comparatively negligent for not watching where they were walking. These defenses work when the plaintiff's attorney does not move fast enough to preserve the evidence that defeats them.
We respond immediately. When you call Lederer & Nojima after a slip and fall, we dispatch an investigator to the scene, photograph the exact location where you fell, identify all surveillance cameras, secure witness statements, and send a spoliation letter demanding preservation of all video footage and incident reports. We build the evidence file before the property owner's insurer gets comfortable.
Former Insurance Defense
We defended property owners and their insurers for years. We know every argument they use to deny liability and how to defeat each one.
No Fee Unless We Win
Premises liability cases require expert witnesses, scene reconstruction, and litigation. We front all costs. You pay nothing unless we recover.
Free Consultation 24/7
Surveillance footage gets overwritten fast. Call us immediately. We preserve the evidence before it disappears.
What Property Owners and Insurers Do After a Slip and Fall
These are the defense tactics we used when we represented property owners. Now we expose them.
They claim the hazard was open and obvious
The open and obvious defense argues you should have seen the danger. Insurers use this to deny liability even when the property owner created or ignored the hazard. We counter with California case law that holds property owners liable for obvious hazards that are unreasonably dangerous.
They argue there was no notice of the dangerous condition
To win a premises liability case, you must prove the property owner knew or should have known about the hazard. Insurers claim there was no notice. We prove notice by showing maintenance records, prior incidents, inspection logs, and the length of time the condition existed.
They delete or hide surveillance footage
Most commercial properties have surveillance cameras. Video footage of your fall is critical evidence. Footage overwrites every 30 to 90 days. Property owners know this. We send immediate spoliation letters to preserve it.
They blame you for not watching where you walked
Comparative fault is California law. If you were partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurers argue you were distracted, walking too fast, or should have seen the hazard. We use expert testimony to prove you could not avoid the hazard.
How We Handle Slip and Fall Cases
Immediate Evidence Preservation
We send spoliation letters to the property owner demanding preservation of all surveillance footage, incident reports, maintenance logs, and inspection records.
Scene Investigation
We dispatch an investigator to photograph the exact location where you fell, measure the hazard, document lighting conditions, identify all surveillance cameras, and interview witnesses.
Proof of Notice
We subpoena maintenance records, prior incident reports, and inspection logs. We prove the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition by showing how long it existed and whether they had prior complaints.
Expert Testimony
We retain premises liability experts and safety engineers who testify that the property owner violated California building codes and industry standards.
Demand and Negotiation
We send a demand package that anticipates every defense argument the insurer will raise. When they argue open and obvious or comparative fault, we already have the case law and expert testimony that defeats it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have a case if I slipped and fell on someone else's property?
What is notice and why does it matter in slip and fall cases?
How long do I have to file a slip and fall lawsuit in Los Angeles?
What if the property owner says the hazard was open and obvious?
Can I sue if I fell in a store or shopping mall in Los Angeles?
Related Practice Areas
Lederer & Nojima, LLP
12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 312-1860
Results may vary. Every case is unique. The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Injured in a Slip and Fall in Los Angeles? Call Now.
No fee unless we win. Former insurance defense attorneys on your side.
Available 24/7 · No fee unless we win · (310) 312-1860